Military Fueling Jet Hit by Laser Over Jersey Shore

A "momentary flash" of green illuminated a fueling jet flying a training mission over the Jersey Shore in what the FAA is investigating as the latest incident involving a laser beam being pointed at an aircraft, NJ Advance Media reports.

The military KC-10 refueling jet was flying about 4,000 feet over Lacey Township at about 10:20 p.m. when crew members reported that a green laser illuminated the plane, FAA spokesman Jim Peters told NJ Advance Media. Lacey Police were notified and the tanker jet returned safely to the joint base.

The plane was part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing -- a reservist refueling wing -- at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the article states.

The incident is the latest in a series of laser incidents this year involving planes aircraft in the skies over New Jersey and New York. In December, a laser was pointed at a United Airlines flight approaching Newark Liberty International Airport. In addition, 20 incidents were reported in one day on Nov. 12, 2015 including one where a laser was pointed at an ABC 7 helicopter. In July of last year, 12 planes were targeted in one night.

Aiming a light of laser at an aircraft is a federal crime, according to the FAA. The lasers can distract pilots during landing and takeoff and can even cause them temporary blindness, according to the FAA.